Boy in Cornwall walks free after punching and kicking dog to death in horrific beach attack

A 15-year-old boy has been fined just £500 after he kicked and punched a pet dog to death on a beach in Cornwall.

Truro Magistrates Court heard how the teenager, who has not been named, lost his temper on St Ives beach on October 31 last year and launched a savage attack on the Staffordshire bull terrier.

Judge Baker said the lad had inflicted the “highest level of animal cruelty.”

The lad, who was 14 at the time, became angry after the dog called Teddy pinned down his own pet pooch.

Teddy suffered a fractured skull as well as several blunt-force injuries to his head, neck and torso, causing internal bleeding.

The youth was found guilty of causing unnecessary suffered to a protected animal after a two day trial last month.

He was ordered to pay £500 in compensation and banned from keeping animals for five years.

The fine will be paid by his mother in weekly instalments of £50.

He was also handed down an 18-month rehabilitation order with 18 months supervision and was also given an eight week curfew.

The boy’s father was cleared of an identical charge.

Judge Baker, who sentenced the boy today said: “You are a young man who has lived with domestic violence for a long time.

"Domestic violence under the influence of alcohol that has severely affected your emotional wellbeing and ability to deal with stressful situations."

Teddy’s owner, Jacqueline Stevens, 71, said in an impact statement that her "life has been ripped apart and changed forever".

She added she also now “dreads” going to St Ives due to the associations with the town.

She told : "I could speak all day about Ted. He was a big bear.

"I miss him in my bed. He loved being dressed by my grandchildren. I will never get over the loss him and I haven't been able to go back to the beach where I used to walk him yet.

"I am glad that person has been found guilty."

RSPCA inspector Jon Phipps thanked the witnesses for testifying in court.

He said: "It was clear how traumatised they were, and indeed, still are about what they saw that day but without their help, this case could never have come to court and there would be no justice for Teddy."